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(No Model.)

R. w. FERGUSON.

PLAITING MACHINE.

Qvvenfor:

diforn/egi N. PETERS Photoof my improved form of plaiting-knife.

. provide improved means for forming plaits or chine. Fig. 2 is an end view, and Fig. 3 a

' ROBERT \V. FERGUSON, OF DECATUR,

PATENT @FFIQE.

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM B.

CLARK AND FRAZIER \V. NEVIUS, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

PLAITING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 92,905, dated February 5, 1884 Application filed duly 25, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. FERG usox, a citizen of the United States, residing at De catur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plaiting-lliachines, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This application is a division, made in ,accordance with the requirements of the ofiice, of an application filed by me on the 9th day of April, 1883.

My present invention has for its object to folds in textile fabricssuch, for example, as are commonly made inwearing apparel, upholsterers work, or trimmings of various kinds-and in particular does it relate to improvements in that class of machines wherein the goods are held upon a board and the plaits or folds are made by means of a knife. This object of invention I have accomplished by the mechanism hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularlydefined in the claimsat the end of the specification. V

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved maplan view, of the same. Fig. 4 is a side view A. designates the plaiting-board, which may be a plain board, padded upon both sides, and of any desired length, but, as shown in the accompanying drawings, is what is known to the trade as a bosom-board, ora board specially adapted for holding shirt-bosoms smoothly stretched while being ironed. In one end of this board are embedded the ends I) of the wire springs B, which constitute the collar -band stretchers of thebosom-board, and which,when such form part of the plaits, have the further function of aiding to hold the tape-carrying frame D in position, as will presently appea The ends I) of these springs are held in a manner free to slide with the sockets 11 formed in the expanded end portion, A, attached to or formed integral with the body of the board. This expanded portion A has its outer corband of a shirt to be more readily ironed,) and in its side edges has the grooves a, to receive the side bars,'d, of the tape-frame, and hold the same in place. To the opposite end of the board A is hinged the strip or flap A, which is somewhat narrower than the body of the board, and is provided upon its front edge with a long groove to receive the clamp-wire 0, having its ends embedded in the board, as shown, and serving to retain the flap A in horizontal position.

Centrally of the side edges of the board A, and in substantially the position shown, are placed the pivot pins or screws A, over which may be slipped the eyes or sockets d, attached to the side bars, (I, of the tape-frame. This frame is. constructed preferably of steel wire, having its sides (1 and upturned end bar, d preferably in one piece, and having its points em-. bedded in the wooden strip (1", which carries the wire E, to which the tapes F, that, retain the goods upon the surface of the board, are connected by means of the metal clips f. The opposite ends of the tapes are connected in ,like manner to the aipturned end bar, d", and by this means the position of the tapes can be readily shifted, as desired. The side bars of the tape-frame at their points of juncture with the end bar are bent, as shown at d", to form seats, within which may catch the springs B when the tape-frame is in position upon the board. The frame D is fixed in position for use by slipping the eyes or sockets (1 over the pivot-pins A and by pressing the side bars, (1, into one set of the grooves a of the portion A of the board and over the springs B. When thus placed up on the board, the long side bars, d,act as springs against any lifting of the tapes, and thus serve to keep the same constantly taut against the goods. By thus forming the tapesupporting frame of elastic wire, a much more durable, effective, and economical means of retaining the material upon the boardis obtained than would be possible were the tapes held by springs embedded in the edges dithe board.

Animportant advantage secured by pivoting .theta e-frame is that it can be swung back from o the material by slightly springing the side barsand lifting the end cl, (as will 11ers beveled, as shown, (to enable the collarbe understood,) thus allowing more ready acuntil the sockets of the bars slip from off the vthin elastic blades G.

pivot-pins.

Instead of providing the enlarged portion A with grooves for holding the tape-frame in position, a small metal clip having one or two grooves or corrugations may be attached to each side edge of the strip A; or other suitable means for retaining the tape-frame in place may be employed.

My purpose in placing the pivot-pins centrally of the side edges of the board, and in providing the hinged flap with double grooves, is to enable either side of the board to be used in plaiting by merely changing the position of the tape-frame. I wish it distinctly understood, however, that without departing from the spirit of my invention the position of the pivot-pins may be changed and a single side groove only may be employed. Moreover, it will be apparent that some of the features of the invention may be used independ ently of others 5 and, as will be seen, the plaiting attachment can be used in connection with any suitable construction of board. I have therefore defined more accurately the scope of my invention in the several claims at the end of this specification.

My improved construction of the plaitingknife is illustrated in Fig.- 4 of the drawings.

F designates the knife-handle,which is provided in its upper portion with the saw kerf or socket to receive therein the ends of the The knife-blades are of equal length;' but their ends are cut away in reversedirection, as seen in Fig. 4, so as to permit either of the blades to be more readily inserted under the material in making the plaits.

The plaiting operatiomis as follows: The goods having been placed uponthe board,and the tape-frame having been fixed in'position thereon, the knife is inserted under the tapes with one blade above and one beneath thematerial. By now turning the knife the plaits can be readily formed in any desired shape.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the board, of a frame provided with tapes and adapted to be removably fitted to said board, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the board having pivot-pins, of the tape-frame having sockets to fit over said pins, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the board having pivot-pins and having a groove in each of its side edges, of a tape-frame, substantially as described.

4.. The combination, with the'board, of the tape frame having end bars to sustain the tapes, and having side bars adapted to fit over the board and act as springs to tighten the tapes, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a board having pivot-pins placed centrally of its side edges, and having double grooves in its side edges, of a tape-frame, constructed substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the board'having springs B, of the tape-frame bent, as at (1*, to clasp said springs, substantially as described.

7. The combination, withthe board having expanded portions A with grooved side edges, of the pivoted tape-frame adapted to enter the grooves, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the side bars and end bar of the tape-frame, of the strip d and the tapes E, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the board having narrow flap A and clamp-wire O, of the pivoted tape-frame D, adapted to fit over said board and flap, substantially as described.

10. In aplaiting-machine, a plaiting-knite having two blades, the ends of which are cut away in reverse directions, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of July, A. D. 1883.

ROBERT \V. FERGUSON.

\Vitnesses:

S. F. GREER, J. H. DURFEE. 

